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Shackle reverse worth the time and money?

770 views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  NHfireLJ 
#1 ·
Hi,
i have a YJ with selfmade SOA and flat stock springs.It works since many years very well. now i think about an shackle reverse to improve at highway speeds and to make it smother offroad. Here around is nobody who drives an YJ with shakle reverse (and SOA), so i can´t ask somebody or take a little testdrive…
so my question is: is it worth the time and money? and will drive and flex it the same or better ?
I´ll do a selfmade kit complete welded on, so i have to cut all the stock shackle and springmounts and the way back to stock is very difficult if it gets worse…
...any advice bevor i start…?

...and sorry for my english, i hope it´s understandeble what i want...:wink2:


Marcel.
 
#3 ·
With flat springs it may not help. The whole thing with a SR is for the spring to move “back” when hitting a bump, flat springs have to move forward with a SR.

Few things if doing a SR:
Go thru the frame, don’t mount the shackle pivot point below the frame.
Try to keep the spring “flattish” front spring pivot to rear spring shackle.
 
#4 ·
If i do SR the mounting points of the spring will be in the same position like now, the rear shackle mount will be a weld in frame tube with my old (lift) shackles.
Now i have on uneven streets a little wandering from left to right and so on… i dont have a smooth straigt run. I know this is normal in a Jeep with leafsprings and liftshackles dont make it better...but if i could solve this "problem" without any other disadvantages it´s worth to think about a SR.
 
#5 ·
The main reason (as I understand it) for front shackles is reducing nose dive during braking (not a good highway trait). Virtually every road going vehicle with leaf springs has had shackles at the front of the front springs.
 
#6 ·
I would say if you have to ask, then do more research..... lots of info... But in general as already stated....

better absorb off road bumps

will nosedive more when braking

does nothing for highway speed.

Having been wheeling for years and multiple builds, I'd say, its not required... Coil suspension if you want a smoother ride...
 
#7 ·
In terms of flat stock springs, you aren't getting the benefit of the shackle reversal like you would with SUA and high arch lift springs.

In short, no it won't improve road riding and will actually make road handling worse. Shackle reversal is more about approach angle when used offroad with flat springs. However, with that better approach angle comes a worse breakover angle.

One thing the reversal will do for you when combined with flat springs is allow you to fully customize your shackle angle and spring placement. Maybe that's less important to some people but it's a tweak you can use in your favor regardless of your shackle location.
 
#9 ·
Marcel, you need to expand your Jeeper friends.
...i have some Jeeper friends, but most are JK´s here around. On a meeting or an offroad trip a YJ or CJ are exceptions, next 500miles around i know 1 steet legal YJ with SOA ( without SR).
Thanks for your answers, at the moment it seems there are better ways to spent money and time than to do a SR.

Marcel.
 
#11 ·
Marcel, you need to expand your Jeeper friends.
...i have some Jeeper friends, but most are JK´s here around. On a meeting or an offroad trip a YJ or CJ are exceptions, next 500miles around i know 1 steet legal YJ with SOA ( without SR).
Thanks for your answers, at the moment it seems there are better ways to spent money and time than to do a SR.

Marcel.
Agreed...
 
#10 ·
One thing to note is that a shackle reversal can have effects on front driveshaft length and travel. In fact, it can destroy a transfer case. etc. if the driveshaft slip splines run out of travel.

I researched it a lot in the day and came to the conclusion that it can have as many negative effects as positive ones. A YJ with good springs and shocks does not ride that bad. JS.
 
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